USS West Virginia Life Preserver

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

This item is on semi-permanent display in the WVRHC Conference Room. When not on display it is offsite, and a surrogate image is hung in its place. Please contact the Center prior to visiting to determine if the original is onsite.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], U.S.S. West Virginia Life Preserver, A&M 4640, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet 6 in. (1 plexiglass-enclosed item)
Creator:
Kendrick, Earl G. (Ken)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], U.S.S. West Virginia Life Preserver, A&M 4640, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This life preserver, constructed of treated canvas over foam, was salvaged from the wreckage of the U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48) after the surprise December 7, 1941 Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The life preserver measures 25 inches in diameter and includes the phrase, "U.S.S. W. Va. 1st Fire and Rescue Div" painted in red.

Biographical / historical:

This original World War II ring life preserver, from Colorado-class battleship the U.S.S. West Virginia, was retreived from the water by sixteen-year-old Charles House Morgan Jr., son of Charles House Morgan Sr., the U.S. Commander of Harbor Defence at Pearl Harbor. Morgan Jr. was walking to headquarters at Diamond Head on December, 7 1941, when he saw the Japanese planes attack just 200 feet away.

Acquisition information:
Gift from Earl G. "Ken" Kendrick, 2023.
Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard